, 1887-12-06

crowded to their utmost capacity with
spectators drawn together to witness the
opening scenes Of the new congress.
Ladies were in the majority, and their
gay costumes lent an air of animation to
the chamber. On the floor members con
gregated and exchanged greetings and
congratulations. But very few floral de-
corations were upon the desks of the
members.
On the call of the roll 3l3 members an
swered to their names and the clerk hay
ing announced that more than a quorum
being Pre- ent the next business in order
was the election OF a speaker. John Il.
Carlisle was put in nomination by Cox OF
New York and Thomas B. Reed by Can
non of Illinois. The vote resulted: Car
isle 1913, Reed AS, Brumm of Pennsyl-
vania 2. OF four independents, Ander-
son of Iowa voted for Carlisle; Nichols of
North Carolina and Smith of Wisconsin,
Tor Brumm; Hopkins of Virginia did not
vote. The clerk thereupon declared Car
Isle duly elected and that gentleman was
escorted to the speakers desk by Cox and
Reed. amid loud applause.
The oath OF Office having been admin
istered by Kelly, OF Pennsylvania, the
speaker raped the house to order and
said: ''Geutlemen of the house OF rep
resentatives: In assuming for the third
time the duties, laborious and responsible,
OF the office for which you rave Just
chosen me, l desire to tender my grateful
thanks for the distinguished favor con-
terred, and | assure you that 1t will be
my constant endeavor to justify the conf
dence reposed in me by a fair and impair
tial administration of the law governing
YOUR proceedings There scarcely has
ever been a time in our history when a
continued prosperity OF tie country de-
pended so largely upon legislation In con-
gress as now. Whatever is done must be
done here, and if nothing is done the
responsibility must rest here. 1t must be
evident to everyone who has taken any
survey of public affairs that the time has
now come when a revision OF the revenue
laws and a reduction of taxation are abso-
lutely necessary in order to prevent Il
large and dangerous accumulation of
money in the treasury.
The financial condition of the govern
ment and private business of the people
alike demand prompt consideration OF
these subjects, and the speedy enactment
of some substantiil measure of relief.
Unfortunately we are menaced by dan
gers from opposite directions, while the
policy of non-action must inevitably re
suit sooner or later in serious injury to the
country. We cannot be unmindtul OF the
fact that hasty and inconslderate legisla-
ton on subjects more or less affecting large
financial and industrial interests might
produce, temporarily at least, disturb
ances and embaTassments which a more
prudent course would entirely avoid. The
investments made and labor employed in
,rl roInnll, Splnutri.r uhinh
have grown up under our present system
of taxation ought not to be rudely dis
turbed by sudden and radical changes in
the policy to which they have adjusted
themselves. but the Just d.mands of over
taxed people and the ovious requirements
OF the financial situation cannot be en-
tirely ignored without seriously imperiling
much greater and more widely extended
inter, SIS than any that could possibly be
iniuriously affected by a moderate and
reasonable reduction of duties.
mo part OF our people are more i'm
mediately vitality interested in the contin-
uance If financial prosperity than those
who labor for wages. Upon them and
their families must always fall the most
disastrous consequence OF a monetary
crisis, and they, too, are always the last to
realize the benefit of a return to prosper
Gus times. Their wages are always first
TO fall when a crisis comes and the last to
rise when 1t passes away. Our efforts
should be to afford necessary relief to all
without injury to the interests of any, and
therefore that course of legislation should
be pursued which will guarantee the labor.
ing people of the country against the par
alyzIng effects of general and prolonged
financial depression, and at the same time
not interfere with their steady employ
ment nor deprive them of any part of the
Just rewards Of their toll, If this can be
done, and [ believe it will if our DELHI
e~ratiOns are conducted with the patriot
ism which the gravity of the situation de-
mands, this cOngrcs, will have cause to
congratulate itself on achievement which
promises peace and prosperity to the coun-
try for many years to come.
These remarks may be considered
somewhat out of the usual course, and
perhaps not entirely pertinent to the oc-
~casion, but believe you will excuse them,
gentlemen, because they relate to subjects
which, as we assemble here to-day, are
uppermost in the minds OF all the people,
and on n correct solution of the question
which these subjects necessarily involve
may depend the fate not only OF political
parties, but, what IS lar more important,
the permanent welfare of the greatest
and most enlightened constitution in the
world.
Again | thank you, gentlemen, TOR
the conspicuous and honorable place to
which you have assigned me, and without
attempting to detain you further, we will
proceed to complete the organization Of
the house.
When the applause which greeted this
speech had subsidized, the speaker entered
upon the duty OF administering the oath
of office to the members elect, who were
in groups, of a dozen at a time, who APP.
peared at the bar of the house and quail
flied. This duty having been accomplish
ed, the speaker stated that nominations
for house officers were in order, and a res
olution presenting for election the Demo
cratic caucus nominees was submitted by
Cox of New York, while a similar resolu-
ton presenting the names of the Republic
can caucus nominees was offered by Can.
non OF Illinois. Brumm of Pennsylvania
put the following new ticket in the field;
For clerk. Robert Schil(ing of W i%sconsin;